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AirBoyzT · 23-03-2014, 10:52

So I'm going to share a little story with you of something I did wrong while out sailing last Thursday that could have very likely caused my death. Here in Virginia we have had a rough winter, and a few days have been favorable. I decided to go out on a lovely day and anchor overnight and head back the next day, no rush cool calm and collective. The weather was a high of mid 60's both days, and the wind was favorable.

I headed out solo and stated my northern trek up the Chesapeake bay heading from Hampton to Poquoson where I would anchor. I had jacklines set up and had just purchased an inflatable offshore PFD with built in harness, as I was not going to go solo without a harness, no matter what the weather was like. I arrived at the channel at around 4:00pm an dropped the sails, turned on the motor and began to travel down the channel, towards the anchorage. A large barge was heading up the channel, so I steered clear out of the channel and all of a sudden came to a stop. I had gotten my propeller wrapped up in a fishing net that was not properly marked, and quite long.

Now here comes the part where I was stupid. I have unlimited towing with Boat US. Rather than calling them, I tried to use a boat hook to lift the net up and cut it, however I only got one side cut free. I then decided to inflate my dinghy and try to cut it away that way and examine the propeller to see if I could somehow untangle it. I brought the dinghy around and tied it up to the stern cleats. I climbed down and tried to cut the net free.

What I did Wrong:
I decided to be lazy with tying the dinghy up to the stern, it was loose, and the sailboat was bouncing on the waves. As I was climbing onto the ladder to get back into the sailboat to call the tow boat (which I should have done all along), the dinghy drifted, I slipped and fell into the water. The water had to have been 45-50 degrees, if not colder. I immediately activated my inflatable PFD and had luckly hooked my harness into the boat incase I had fallen in (This is what I did right). The sad part was that the boat was bouncing on the waves with considerable force.

I was in the cold water for 30-45 minutes before I was able to pull myself up on the ladder, which took all my remaining strength. I could not get into the dinghy which I tried do to the PFD getting in my way, and I wasn't taking that off. One of the major problems was I couldn't feel my feet or my hands, and on the ladder this was a major problem. I then stripped down naked, dried off and wrapped up into 2 sleeping bags to warm up. Gradually I did, called towboat US and was cut free and towed to docking.

What I'm glad I did:
Before getting into the dinghy I had called my cousin and told him of the situation. I have faith that he would have hopefully called the coast guard, but by then it would have been too late.

I'm glad I had worn my inflatable PFD and harness.

What I wish I had:
I wish I would have had a portable VHF radio clipped to my harness, I would have called the coast guard and hopefully would have been rescued without being in the water for that long.

Conclusion:
I know what I did was wrong. After taking so many solo sailing precautions by using jacklines and a harness, I was lazy in tying up the dingy. I also should have never done this alone. I should have called towboat US, especially since I have unlimited towing. I'm lucky to be alive. I did have a mild case of hypothermia, but luckily my army training kicked in, an I was able to treat myself appropriately.

krafthaus · 23-03-2014, 11:03

Thanks for sharing. That's a while to be in the water at that temperature. I'd say you were getting short on time. Glad you had a good outcome!

AirBoyzT · 23-03-2014, 16:20

I have my own stupidity to blame.

**hpeer** · 23-03-2014, 16:27

Good story, thanks for sharing.

bobofthenorth · 23-03-2014, 16:31

It can happen so quick. We've all done numerous bone-headed stunts over the years - fortunately most of them work out OK. Thanks for sharing this one as a reminder. I'd say you were damn lucky to get yourself out of that water after that long. Your training likely helped with the mental part of keeping going. You must have been tempted to just give up.

Mike Vogdes · 23-03-2014, 17:53

Yes you are lucky to be alive, I'm glad the outcome has become a learning experience for you. You must be in pretty good shape which would make all the difference in a situation like this. In my younger years I could see myself trying to cut away the net but nowadays I think I would be on the radio to Boat US right out of the gate.

Blue Crab · 23-03-2014, 18:11

Good story. THX

Ballenxj · 23-03-2014, 18:58

WOW! You are lucky to be able to tell us this story, and "we" are lucky that you are able to tell us this story as a reminder of our mortality.

nimblemotors · 23-03-2014, 19:25

Thanks for the story and good to hear it ended ok.
It concerns me that a fishing net can disable a boat and it can't be fixed easily.
Scoobert has the same thing happen if I recall, he called Boat US right off.

Tx J · 23-03-2014, 20:00

The only thing worse after losing propulsion would have been if you drifted in front of the oncoming barge.
With water temperatures like that you're danged lucky to have survived long enough to get out.

**JPA Cate** · 23-03-2014, 20:24

AirBoyzT,

Perhaps it was stupid to be careless with tying up the dinghy, and in not letting it slip from under you. Maybe not, though, it's such a human thing to do, and people aren't perfect. One can get a little over the top blaming oneself. Frankly, I admire that you wanted to and attempted to deal with the situation yourself. And your recovery from the hypothermia was excellent.

Maybe you underestimated your own ability to mess up, though. The problem is, self confidence is good. Relying on tow services tends to diminish your own verve for handling situations that arise.

Look at all you gained from this experience:
New respect for winter-cold waters;
Lesson about tying dinghy to boat;
Lesson about shifting from dinghy to boat;
Possibility of waterproof hand held vhf as a safety device for singlehanding;
all in all, a good one. Any landing you walk away from is a good one.

Good on ya for starting the thread, though. It is an especially thoughtful thing to do, putting up what you think are mistakes for internet scrutiny. Many are not so brave.

Good job, mate.

Ann

AirBoyzT · 23-03-2014, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Vogdes

Yes you are lucky to be alive, I'm glad the outcome has become a learning experience for you. You must be in pretty good shape which would make all the difference in a situation like this. In my younger years I could see myself trying to cut away the net but nowadays I think I would be on the radio to Boat US right out of the gate.

I'm actually quite out of shape and overweight now. This is a wake up call, somehow I managed to gain the strength. I guess the moral is never give up, I kept telling myself I wasn't going to die.

I'm not afraid of internet scrutiny, people can call me what I am, I was an idiot, I just hope this will find people who will use it in the back of their mind for dealing with the same situation.

Kenomac · 23-03-2014, 20:53

Stuff happens. Don't feel bad, I'd have done the same as you; with the only difference being... I would have been in a wet suit. Probably wouldn't have thought to call the tow service until afterwards.